Photo: Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS) via DayakDaily

Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg announced the plan after meeting aerospace experts. He said a satellite could support the collection of Earth and resource data, while the programme would create demand for engineers with space-technology and basic astronomy knowledge.

What is confirmed — and what is not

CubeSats are small satellites built around standardised units, making them useful for education, technology testing and focused observation missions. A local laboratory could therefore be valuable even before a launch by training engineers and letting teams design, assemble and test hardware.

The 2030 launch remains a target, not a confirmed mission date. The announcement did not name a launch provider, final satellite specification, budget or exact laboratory site. Those are the details that will show whether the idea has moved from roadmap to funded engineering work.

For Sarawak, the strongest case will be practical use: flood and land monitoring, agriculture, mapping or environmental data that local agencies can actually use. The next milestones to watch are the 2027 lab start, technical partners and a published mission plan.

Announced in: Kota Samarahan
️ Timeline: Laboratory development targeted for 2027; satellite target 2030

Sources: DayakDaily report · NASA explainer on SmallSats and CubeSats